The Game of Chess: A Play in One Act

"The Game of Chess: A Play in One Act" by Kenneth Sawyer Goodman is a drama set in the pre-World War I era that uses a chess match as a backdrop to explore themes of power, identity, and life versus death. Through intense dialogue in a fancy room, two characters, Alexis and Boris, reveal their complicated connection and the societal issues linked closely to class struggles. The chess game becomes more than just a game as Boris, a revolutionary, confronts Alexis, a nobleman, about ending his life. The play looks closely into themes of being two-sided and knowing yourself and finishes with a striking twist, blurring the lines between who is hunting and who is being hunted, as well as questioning what is fair and what is revenge. In the end, it emphasizes how ridiculous and serious their situation is, leaving both characters in a deadly game where staying alive and finding truth are most important.